Inclusion Network

Inclusion-Network-logo.png

The purpose of the City of Kirkland's Inclusion Network is to create opportunities to help Kirkland be a more safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for all people.  It is an open, informal group of representatives from non-profit and faith-based organizations, civic and community-based organizations, service provider agencies, and other governmental agencies.   

Meetings

The regular Inclusion Network meetings are currently on hold for 2021.  The City of Kirkland is undergoing an organizational equity assessment throughout 2021 as part of a larger effort of dismantling structural racism in Kirkland.  The City will organize Inclusion Network meetings as needed to help inform the equity assessment and/or as needed for other timely topics.  Please sign up to the Inclusion Network email list to stay up to date on meetings and to receive other information related to Kirkland being a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community.

The Inclusion Network meets regularly to share information and build civic connections between the participant organizations and the City.  Inclusion Network meetings generally consist of three parts: 

  • Inclusion Network member check-ins on upcoming events or programs and current issues in the community;
  • Report from the City on civic conversations, upcoming opportunities, and other timely topics; and 
  • Presentation from an Inclusion Network member or outside organization on a topic of interest to the group. 

Sign up for the Inclusion Network email list. 

Participation

All community members are welcome to attend Inclusion Network meetings.  Attendance at Inclusion Network meetings is encouraged but not required for participation in the Inclusion Network, and no other commitment is required to be involved.  

The City also sends periodic emails to Inclusion Network members for opportunities for further civic engagement with the City.

2020 Inclusion Network Meetings

January 23, 3 to 4:30 pm
Peter Kirk Room, Kirkland City Hall
March 26, 3 to 4:30 pm
Cancelled due to COVID-19
May 28, 3 to 4:30 pm
Cancelled due to COVID-19
July 23, 3 to 4:30 pm
Met via Zoom
September 24, 3 to 4:30 pm
Met via Zoom
November 19, 3 to 4:30 pm
Zoom meeting info coming soon

KirklandTalks

Creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming community takes understanding, openness and willingness to talk and listen to each other.

That’s why the City has worked with the Eastside Immigrant and Refugee Coalition (ERIC) and the Inclusion Network to create KirklandTalks. KirklandTalks is a dialogue model to facilitate conversations so that participants can talk, listen, and learn about cultural differences.

KirklandTalks is a self-contained dialogue kit(PDF, 1MB) that:

  • supports inclusive participation in diverse groups
  • can be used with a variety of question sets and topics
  • is relatively simple to facilitate

The hope is to inspire individuals and groups to invite neighbors from diverse cultures to gather and, using the template and materials provided, create community conversations in a variety of venues.

The theme of the first dialogue model is “American” cultural identity and pluralism. A second theme on gun and community safety was developed and used during the summer of 2018. 

The City hosted one training on “Hosting and Facilitating Inclusive Community Dialogues” earlier this year, and more trainings are currently being scheduled. While it is not necessary to attend a training in order to host a dialogue, the trainings include valuable information regarding the most important aspect of the dialogues—the invitation.

“American” Cultural Identity and Pluralism: